Mailing machine



l m Q@ PP BEST AvAlLABLE Com` Aug. 31,1926. 1,597,989 F. MCCARTHY MAILNG MACHINE Orignal Filed /larsh 30, 1920 ll Sg? t Sheet 1 N N'B fr lllJ BEST AVAlLABLE COPYvl A g@ @I 1192.@

F. MCCARTHY MAILING MACHINE 1.1 Sheets-Shee. 2

Original Filed Marsh 50 N HHIIIN BEST AVAILABLECOPY Au@ 3i i926.,

F. MCCARTHY MAILING MACHINE Original Filed March 30, 192C 1.1 Sheets-Shee. 5

BEST AVAILABLE COP\ F. M CARTHY MAI LI NG MACHlNE 1920 Sheetseei 4 Original Filed March v /ll/l/E/VTOR M MM EEST AVAILABLE COPYl L5M/Egg@ F. MCCARTHY MAILING MACHINE 1l Sheets-Sheei 5 Original Filed Maroh 30 1920 nvm/Tof? Arron/viv 'BESTAVAILABLE COPY F. MCC/RTHY MAILING MACHINE 1.1 Sheets-Shed BEST AVAILABLE com Si 9 T192@ F. MQCARTHY mums MACHINEV Original Filed March 30. 1920 1 1 Sheets-Sheva 7 .TTORNE V faEsT AVAILABLE com Aug. 31 3926e F. MCCARTHY MAILING MACHINE Original Filed March 30. 1920 ll SheetS-Sheet B BEST AVAILABLE COP\ Aug. 3l 1926.

Original Filed March 30 1920 1,597,989 F. MccARTHY MAILING MACHINE l1 SheebS-Sheet 9 /N VEN TOR 7M um@ er 7 Ano/mfr BEST AVAILABLECoPx amag., 31 i926. 3,597,989

F. M CARTHY MAILING MACHINE original Filed Marchio, 1920 1,1 sheets-sheet 1o l/gl 15g 143; 159

1920 ll Sheets-Sheet ll 7 Armen/Er BEST AVAILABLE com Aug. 3i 1926.

F. MCCARTHY MAILING MACHINE Original Filed March 30 eEsT AVAILABLE com Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

Aplicaton iedmarch sal-1920,;l 'ffm This inventionv isv an 'improved machine for assembling envelopes and -their'ien'closures, that is to say, a' machine which may be termed for convenience a' mailing ma chine, which inserts the enclosures intofthe envelopes and disposes the flap's. It is rn'ore particularly an vimprovement inthe typeof machine disclosed ininy Patent'1,305',`390, ofJ une 3, 1919whereinthe'envelopes 'and enclosures are contained injstacks inlv'magazines at opposite sides, from thebottomsof which the envelopes and lenclosures?are-lalternately withdrawnv and carried inwardr'to the center by feed mechanism, -and specifically by oppositely travelin'gHbeltsQvandfiat the center delivered 'downwardfto'a' loading station against abottom' stopfwhere leach envelope stands to're'cei've itsenclosureye'ach loaded envelope bein'gfthen carriedlongitudinally away from' the loadingi'station by conveying means, specifically by 'a longitudinally-traveling `verti cally-'c'lisposed "beltA4 and an opposed intermittingly-actuated clutchor traction member, to the action'v v-ofmeans whereby the flap is tucked in to the envelope over the enclosure 'or circular." y' The object of the invention is -to improve such machine both as to the wholeand as' to particular parts, as will become app'arentas the specification proceeds, Among-the more important features are:l A novel-construction of the magazines with' automatically actuated receding floors and pusher-'floors and yielding stripper gates with flexible lips,fy

whereby each bottom article drops and'tilts forward with some weight 'onto' the 'moving feed surface beneath and at the lsame vtime is pushed from the rear, so that its forward edge is caused to advance under the restrainti 'of the yielding' trailing gate, whichfholdsfback the superincumbent articles aiidf-ffuriiishes traction pressure for the onerinftran# sit; a construction of the stripperga't'es, particularly of the enclosure 'magaZ1ne,w1th-in dependent spring. pressure adjusting means,=' whereby even feed and 'equal Str-action arejobtained at the two ends irrespective of dif-' ferences in thickness in thef 'folded'fenclo sure; means for. adjusting theI magazinesV for different lengths of envelopes' and'enclosures, A=

and for centering. the stacks; "annu-tornati@ flap-opener or picker-'finger :moving:toward;v

and from thecourse offtheenvelope'in front of the eXit from the Hayat-magazine, with means whereby the-'flap-openerbears .auf

sure a Afonwardi .traction l heldr-,flat fupon: the belt-g a3 rearwardly hinged traction and feed-limiting platefloatfinglon the forward part of the enclosurey-beltgfa yieldi'ng bafile suspended? in the slotbetween ient means for raising and lowering thebot- Itomfstopland itsxext'ens'ion-fguide and holding .the same fr-,adlerentadepths off. envelopes; imeansfolr buckling-theffaceiof each envelope at the loading station to spread; itsmouthfforf lentrance ofltheenclosune, thel bathe assisting; inip'rovedmec'halrlisx'nfl `for iautomatically operating fthe clutch by @which the loaded envelope -is/:started from the, loading stationin-tineifori the 'arrival ofy al Efresh enve- :lope`;f aniopposd relation of theclutch .to an '1.3 inner'supportl of?.A the longitudinal` belt, -Wher'ebyi the; actinlof- Etheclutchi is. prevented from 2 istretchingf the...jbelt; r means whereby Aieachffloade'd envelopeis carredout along eX-.

v-ztended guiding Landwspporting; means and released from the longitudinal Ebelt atatlap- -disposingstationg means fon adjusting the point ofz ele'ase lof fthe frearvend lof :the .en-

velope, so that different-lengths of'x'anvelope4 are 7centralized; o'n f :the tlapdisposing` station; a novel automaticallyoperated over- 'hanging flap-'iserterf' ati' said; stationl vcom- :prising-z moving spreadere.;y and ltucking fingers; an-aut matickicken or ejector ad] acent wthe inserter.; fthe! combi-nations land subcombinations'of theseinstrmentalities and the loperating' connections drivenl from a :common shaft or memben-whereby the intermittingly acting mechanisms are operated in timed relationx 1 1i The invention also comprises lanarran e- -fment whereby theftlapfinserter is.` converti le -intosealer, in.- cnj-i'uict-ion with an attachable'fmoistenerg''f: wf-f f -'hese'andfother features. and aspects of `1t-h'efinvention yare .embodied in the. preferred formaof-machine herein illustrated and described and' more particularly pointed out in the=appendedlclaims:if ai; --rff--r .-Iii=itlieraeconipanyin drawings forming #iapart hereof'rr;=:.' :A -2 Iii -Q f Fig'.AA '11 ,isg a'sid'e elevation of thefmachine, '="-'look'in'g at the bfackg'ofrtheenvelope magafof vspace ;1

zine and showingthe machine organized vfor circular inail inattergrf 'f f Fig. 2 is a fragmentar side elevation, looking at the same side A,o .the machine, il-

l lustrating a conversion for' opr'atiigupon first class matter; Fig. 3 is a plan view, corresponding to Fig. 4 a front end lelevation correspending to Fig. 1;

ig 5'is-'an enlarged vertical section taken approximately 'on the line 5'5 of. Fig. 6,

looking in atthe region ofthe lower :part

ofone of fthe"magazines,-' the pusher floor l5 'andi-other arts' being omitted or clearness ofilliistrationlandthe intermediate part of the 'vi'e'w being broken-away for economy 'Figs 6 is a vertical vtransverse section on 60 for operating the flap-insertar or sealer;

" `1 Fig. 19"-is. a front end-view similar to- Figs. 13 and 14 but showing the machinef? .vforganized forfsealing the flaps', two oper.l .fatingqpositionsf being' shown in full and 55 dotted lines;

3, with the magazines `brl'ieri .1away;"2` z n i l f f Fig. .-72 is. auLvertcal .transverse .v section 'through-'the wallsfonthe lineu'Z-f-' of Fig. "3;witl'i 'the -interiorxy mechanism largely in lFig."8"is anifenlargedlvertical transverse section thro'uglr the interior of tthe machine, "showing-the' Operatingxparts in two positionsin -full anddotted lines;

3@ l'Fig'. 9 lis an enlarged vertical transverse l'section taken just outside the plane of Fig. l'6, Ishowing parts at the envelope-feeding side in two positions in full and dotted lines;

' Fig.' 10 'is an enlarged vertical transverse 35, section illustrating the parts seenin Fig. Y 7 at the envelope-feeding erating positions; r

I. f Fig'pll lis an enlarged vertical transverse section 'of parts seen'in Fig. 7, showing two voperating positions;

f Fig- 12s a sectional plan view, 'correspending to Fig. 11; Figs. 13 and 14 views illustrating the Hap-inserting` mecha- 15`^'iiismv in dierent operating positions;

fIFig. 15 is aI front side elevation of the.

*Snap-inserting mechanism and the adjustable -fbottom' guides with the supporton which "the insei'ter is mounted partly broken away;

Fig. 16 is an end View guide and support; Fig. 417 isy a horizontal section on the -of the bottom 1 line 17+-17 of Fig. 13, illustrating. the manf' ner of removably supporting the spreading- 'i #finger/of the flapinserter,:upon removal of which thev same is-converted into a sealer; v Fig. 18 is asectional plan view of. partsA lfadjacent the' front end wall of the machine upwardly, asshown,and: end.; walls 2 are enlarged l front end sEsTiAVAILABLE com 2.0 is a plan view of themoistener seen in Figs. A2 and 19',- portions thereof being broken away and sectioned; and

Fig. 21 is a lan` view of the deliector used "inV connection'with the nioistener.

The.` frame of the machine comprises side w'alls'l, 1a, which may incline inwardly and 0a i d 7 together forming a boxed enclosure. The

`central portions of the end walls may be reinforced byvv external .panels 3, 3a. The end walls 2, 2a at opposite sides of these central panels are bent inward to form lledges 4, 4, .from which rise two pairs of vertical extensions 5, 52 forming outer enclosure walls for twomagazines; which are located at opposite sides of the machine and -are designated generally y6, 6a. The members -of j each pair jof'wall extensions@ v5au Y areadj-acentgwhat are termed,rfor convenience, the -frontl and rear yends of the frame enclosure and forni theexterior ,sidesofthe magazines, ,the contents-,of whichare fed inwardly atoward; :the longitudinal center. Consequently they inner 'sides' of the iifiagazines are to bearegarded as theinfrontsland ytheir outer -sides asltheir backs.

The magazines Gand 6a. are. designed to i hold stacks of folded paper sheet articles,

-to within la-lsuitable. -distanceof the bottom,

where they terminate, leaving forward basal exits 9 and QaKFig. 7 which-are guarded by the gates 8 and 8a. The actual sides jof the magazine or stack-holders are .formed g -by pairs of vertical side plates 10, 10a within the -iXed side walls 54 anda. 4The lower ends of these movable side plates 10, 10a-are guided upon ithe front walls 7, 7a and are `adjustable toward and fromleach other by- .equal andio'pposite movements through the instrumentalities of shafts y12 and 12a, the

. en d portions iof which are journaled and 'held against endwise movement in the fixed wall 5 and-52%, outside of vwhich they -bear operating-knobs 13, 13a. The portions of each of said shafts at op-posite sides of its center are screw-threaded in opposite directions,.as indicated at 14 in Fig. 1', for engagement with correspondingly threaded nuts 15 carried by --T the pair of plates 10 or 10a- Consequently rotation of the lshai't in one-direction causes the plates of the pair to approach, while rotation ina-the opposite direction separates them... In thisI way the magazines can beset for envelopes and enclosures of various 301V 'each pair facing 'inwardly' toward each other lengths, andl the same means the stacks are automatically centered with respect to the.l mechanisms. to which they are fed and bywhicli they'ai'e operated upon. Straps 16 and lvtie"l the memberslof the pairs of fixed walls 5 and 5'togethe`r at the tops, and the Ainner edges of these vstraps .may be provided with notches' 1i' (Fig. to; indicate the different sizes. l,

f The magazines have'inwardly and downwardly/'inclined bottoms, whereon the stacks are supported, said bottoms' being composed of floors 11, 11a andlS, 18a. In each mag.-

Iazine the floor 11 or 11a is designed to support the forward partof the stack 4and is n'ioyable from a position where itsnforward ledge is'adjacent or projects somewhat outwardly .at the bottom of the exit 9 or 9a (see the left-hand side ofFig. 8) to a retracted position in which itsv forward-edge is well back'of the front line of the s t-acl; (see the right-hand side ofthe samevie'w) and vicelAversa. This floor will hereinafterbe vtermed the' forward. receding floor, and' in each imagazine. it is' preferably supportedl and guided for straight sliding movement .iniits inclined plane. To this end lclliannels 19, 19a are fixed justv within them'ain end walls2,

2f, beneath 'the ledges 4, '42%,' the' channels of 4and receiving 'the sideI edges 'of .the sliding Afloor, (see Fig'). ,v'

18"L in eaclimagazine supy The iioor 18 or ports the rear part fof the stack" and is adapted to adyancea's the forwrlird'loor recedes- It is hereinaftertermed 'thefi''ear-y .ward pusher-Hoor'. y' inclined relatively to thev receding doors, be? ing arranged at a' s'tecperangle, and their function. is to advance the bottom article in 'i the respective stacks while the receding ward portion of such bottom articles to contact with the moving feed members hereinafter described.` The. pusher-floors also serve to work the stacks so asto facilitatev A' the withdrawal of the .bottom articles. In Y order to assist them in advancingthe articles, '1 the pusher-floors are provided on their facesl with a suitable number and arrangement of forwardly'directedv teeth or projections A 's anfimportant,feature of the operation' of the pusher-Heers 'means Vare provided whereby the angles of said vfloorsv change while advancing in a `general forward and 'downward direction V and retreating in a genote'd by a fixed pivot`21 or 21al and' pivotally u*ser AvAiLAeLE com tied at 22 'tolugs on the' 'under sides of the pusher-floors 'adjacent their side edges. The links vare so arranged as to swing from relatively erect to relatively forwardly inclined positions, and viceversa,;with a comparatively short iadiustof'movement, whereby the desired angular rise and fall of tlie pusher floors 'is secured.' The forward Aedges' of these .floors 18' or 418a are most simply supported and 'guided by causing them toslide upon astra'ightguide which is vafforded by the receding'fioors 11 or 11".

Means are provided for effect-ing reverse opera-tion of the receding and pusher-floors.

The specific embodiment of such means may be varied; but in the preferred construction Inovem'ent'is imparted to; the 4receding floors, and from them by a motion-reversing'connection lto the pusher-floors;- As'illustrated,- the ilinks 20 are `,extendeddownward to :form -levers," the ldwer E 'portions fof which 'ride upon Vvthe rear upl'iere'ndsl ofthe receding'floo'rs =11,

11a. Theflattei" are; actuated by arms 23,23 on A': roclr-shafts 24,1 24a; saidj armsp'bearing *again'stisuitabld downward'extensionsf25, 25 on rvsaid floor-'s'.l Thus, when the xarms 23 or 2?? moyerearwardly (with'referencefto the stacks) they" withdraw the l receding floors, and throu'ghf'thepressure of the latter upon the' lever'links 20: cause the. pusher-doors to advance.' 'Spring`s'"',26,'26a connectedwith the pusher#floors-'orl with the levers 20, 2()a actuate the floors inthe 4reverse directions, but it will-be understood that thefloo'rs could be lpositively'operatedinboth directions if de-@f sire'd.' A"lherok-shafts '24, -24w -are operated in proper time by pins 27, 27 projectingendwise"froi ,cylinders 128, 1288, said vpins being arrangedto encounter arms i '29, '29

projecting from theshafts -'and'to 4swing the sameI through'fia'" suitable arc 'of movement.

,When the pins riderfrofn beneath these arms the rock-shaftsand floors are returned to what may betermed'th'e normal positions by the springs 26,'as'st-at'ed. There are prefer` Vably-two Vor more'fofrthe arms 23 or r23a to vact upon each'ofV the receding floors 11 or 11 at laterallyv spaced'j'points; and'onelof these 'arms-may be'formed as an integral bellcrank with the arm`29 or 29a.

Beneath eachV pft-hefma'gaz'inesor the forward' portion" thereofis'anfendless belt 30 or 30a, wliicli'f" p'i'issesl4 about-the'large driven cyliri'derj28 oi' ,28?L beneath-the' magazine and *aboutarelatively' small, idle roller 31 or 31a forwardly 'of the magazine and adjacent the `vertical 'central=longitudi`nal plane of the machine'. Tli'esebelts constitute embodiments of feed'means :for carrying the enn v'elo'pes and 'enclosures inward-to the 'center-4 aiiddownwai'd into a pocket or loading station, operating to this end incongunction with other instrumentalities which will be desc ii.bed.-v The `aires ofthe cylinders and v -rol'lers'Amay be 4and preferablyare, substanil `the .roller 31' and free to turn therein,

yshaft .or an extension' thereofV vrprojects i' 'io ti'ally in horizontal lateral alinement, 'and the arrangement Vis such that the upper courses of the belts travel inward and downward from the .cylinders to the rollers at a substantial inclination, which is shown as being approximately the same as the inclination of the receding floors 11 or 11a. The lower free courses of said belts are acted uponby tensioning rollers 32, 32a on arms 33, 33a pressed by springs 34, 34a (Figs. 6 and '7). The inner guide rollers 31, 31a are located close to each other at opposite sides of the central plane, and the interval between the belts 30, 30 where they turn and pass down and around these rollers marks the top of the pocket where the loading is eected.

- Power is applied to the machine vfor driving all of its coordinated mechanisms through a single shaft or power member, here representedby a shaft 35 supporting which through therear end` wall offthe machine and bears a crank handley 36. For such handle, it .will be understood,there may be substituted-a pulley or other member for driving the machine from a motor. Said shaft and the corresponding shaft-35a supporting the roller 31a and the shafts or axles 37, 37a of the cylinders 28, 28a are journaled in suitable bearings in blocks38 onthe inner sides of the end -walls 2 (see Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 18)., The matter of providing suitable bearings and supports for shafts and rods occupying fixed positions, .being of an obvious nature, will not Vbe referred'to in detail.

The driving shaft 35' bears a small spur,

gearl 39 inside the rear end wall of :the machine, said gear meshing with another similar gear 39I1 on the shaft 35a of the roller 31a. These gears in turn mesh with idle gears 40, 40a, through A.which they drive large gears 41, 41a fixed on `the axles 37, 37a vof the cylinders28, 28a. In this way the belts are driven 4constantly in opposite directions, their upper courses traveling inward and downward at equal speeds. The pins 27, 27 a heretofore referred to are upon the ends of the cylinders remote from the gearing just described, that is to say the ends of the cylinders which are inside the forward end wall of the ma chine', and by virtue of their connection with the cylinders are operated through the common driving mechanism. Said pins. are placed at different 'angular positions with reference to the axes 37, 37a, about which they revolve, so as to operate the compound floors of the two magazines alternately and in proper timed relation, their positions being such that each enclosure follows its envelope as quickly as may be down into the central pocket, where it enters the envelope.

The gates 8 and 8a, previously mentioned,

Vand a flexible lip 43 or 43a of rubber,

ycorresponding,lip 43 or 43a.

BEST AVAILABLE COPN will now be moreparticularly described. Each gate is shown as comprising two separate sections at opposite sides of the central portion of the exit 9 or 9a, leaving such central region unobstructed (see Fig. 3).

substantialv width, lso as to cooperate with the forward-end portions ofthe envelopes and enclosures over. a suitable extent thereof and so as totake in envelopes and enclosures of different lengths. Each section of each gate consists of a relatively rigid body 42 or 42L composed of a pair of plates leather or the like, held by the rigid part and of such length vas to trail upon the belts 30, 30a. The bodyn parts 42 42a of the gate sectionsare hinged lupon the rods 44, 44 carried by the lower edges of the fixed front walls 7, 7a ofthe magazines, the two1sec,

tions of eachgatevbeing independently pivoted uponthis'rodso as to be capable of individual lmovement and adjustment. Each gate sectionispressed inward against the face fof itls'z's'tackv by aspring 45 or 45, and the pressureofthese springs can be independently adjusted by thumbscrewsl 46, 46a

,acting lthroughv vlevers l47, 47, which are y swungupon the rods 44, 44a independently of the gates. The screws 46, 46a have en- .gagement with screw-threaded holes in said levers and bear at their extremities against the walls of the. magazines. Consequently turning any one O-f the screws in one direction addsto the ,compression of its corresponding spring, and therefore to the downward andv rearward pressure exerted by the Conversely, turning the screw in the opposite direction relieves such pressure to any degree desired. The lips themselves, while. flexible, possess a substantial degree, of stiffness and resilience.v The hinging of the bodies of the gate sectionsis mainly for the purpose of adjusting the pressure, the major part of the movement of the gates as the bottom articles are withdrawn from the stack taking place in the lips themselves. The independent adj ustability of the sections of the gate is particularly important on the enclosure magazine 6a, as the enclosures will commonly consist of a sheet folded once in one direction and then twice in the other direction so'that one end. of the enclosure will be thicker than the other. In placing the enclosures in their magazine the thick ends should all be at the same side of the stack and the spring u of the gate section at this side should be set with a lighter adjustment than the spring ofl the other section. A common adjustment could be provided for the gate sections of the envelope magazines o-r :a single continuous gate could be used on this -magazine if desired. The function of the gatespresenting their trailing lips to the 'The separate sections of each gate are of BEST AVAILABLE COP\ feed members 30, 30iL is to strip the successive bottom artic-les 4from the stacks,that'is to say to hold back the superincumbent articles while permitting the bottom'one to advance out of" the magazine,fand at the same time to exert pressure-upon such advancing article in opposition to the beltpor feed member, so as to create traction.

At the enclosure magazine sidev an additional traction me1nber'48is provided between thesections 8f*l of the'gate for? the purpose of holding the central' part of the forward edge of the emerging enclosure against the belt, somewhat. loutwardly from or beyond the transverse region of pressure of thelips 43, Said member is .shown as consisting-of a finger mountedupon the central part of the-rod 442L and extendingdownward and forward, so: that its trailing end rests upon the belt 30 beyond and intermediate the lips, as stated. This member preferably exerts relatively light'pressure, which is secured by means of a spring 49.' This finger holds the central part of the enclosure fiat upon the belt, and-aidsin the forwarding of the same to a` ltraction plate 50.

Said plate overlies thel forward part of the upper course of Ithe enclosure feed belt 30, extending from a regio-n over and somewhat in rear of the roller 31a at anV inclination downward and forward 'and converging with that of the belt, and being curved at and adjacent its forward edge substantially in conformity with the curve of the belt where it passes around the'upper forward quadrant of the roller. In the transverse direction the plate may be and referably is substantially coextensive with t e width of the belt. rlhe plate is arranged to float upon the belt, resting thereon-toward ythe front by gravity, with or without slight initial spring pressure, and to yield away from the belt against adjustable spring resistance to accommodate the passage of the enclosures between the same and the belt. In the simple and preferred construction illustrated the plate 'is pivotally supported at its rear portion, in order to maintain this portion at a sufficient separation from the belt to admit enclosures of any thickness and to perplatc as stated. For this purpose the plate is provided at the rear and at opposite sides with hooked hinge lugs 5l, engaging pins projecting inward from the end walls 2 of the frame. A pair of rods 53 guided in lugs 54 on the inner sides of said walls have rounded lower ends whereby they are adapted to bear upon the topof the plate in advance of its hinge. Av spring 55 encircling each rod between the upper guide lug 54 and a collar 56 fixed on the rod urges the latter downward to an extent limited by a thumb-nut 57. Said nuts are screwed upon the upper ends of the rods 53 above the upper lugs 54, and by turning them in one direction'. the rods can be lowered and the springs slightly relaxed, while turning them in the opposite direction raises the rods and slightly increases the compression Yof the springs. In this way the application ofany substantial spring pressure through the plate to the belt while the plate is floating idlyon the belt is avoided and the passage can be adjusted for different thicknessesof folded enclosures, so as to afford in each ,instance a degree of pressurevwhilej the articles are passing-:through which insures substantially positive traction without possibility of choking'. The; most edective driving grip exists Abetweenthe forward curved part ofthe plate and thetermnal region 4of 'the ,upper portion of the belt, which islheresupported rigidly by 'the roller 31a. Vhen-,fthe-rear edge-of each x enclosure passes beyond the .forward e'dge :of the-plate, by which time it has .been l,

inserted downward into the waitingenvelope,.as Willbe more fully-describedhere after, ,the driving effort exerted uponj the envelope ceases, and accordingly the position the V:extent of feed of the., e'nclosures inthe -loadingfsoperationand therefore the fheight of the upper edges ofthe enclosures .as they stand within their envelopes. 5

a flap-opener 58, which has amovement toward and from the belt 30, being substantially separatedtherefrom in the absenceof an envelope between them.' Said flap-opener may consist advantageously of a rearwardly curved or hooked picker-finger, the upper end of which is pivotally supported tally across the front of the envelope hop per, in front of its gates 42, and is journaled atits'end portions in bearings :60 (Figs. 3 and 4) on the topsof the panels 3. From 'of the; front edgev of the' plate determines `on a shaft 59. Said shaft extends horizons 1 its support onthe :center of this shaft the finger curves outward and forward and thence downward and rearward,lits free extremity being located forwardly of the vertical projection of its'pivotal-axis so asto mit the yielding of the forward part of the` have a movement toward Vand away from the belt substantially as' indicated in Fig. 8. The flap-opener is operated periodically-at the proper times by suitable connections from the operating mechanism of the machine, including a yielding connection whereby the finger when depressed is caused to bear upon the passing-envelope with cushioned pres sure, thereby both avoiding any possibility of injuring the envelope and affording a gentle traction pressure comparable to that of the finger 48 at the' opposite side of the machine, such pressurevbeing exerted at a point beyond the lips 43 of the gates, so as to aid in the forwarding'of the envelopes.

Iir the particular construction illustrated Ks'eF-igs. '6 and 9) the gear tlon the .a-Xle 23T-of theblt cylinder 28 carries la pin 61 plijectingtowardthe end ofthe cylinder, which in its revolution encounters and displlr'ces'the long depending arm of av lever 62, tthenpper portion of which passes through 'slots in the ledge L1 and in the parts beneath :at-"the rear end of lthe machine, and

fulcrum'ed by a pivot pin 63 on stationary lugs '611. The vshort =upper arm of -this lever fis connected bya helical 'spring 65 with a cranlr :arm 136 onthe v-rear'end yof the 'shalt 59. `Thisspringserves as a'yielding `lte'isio'n 'connection through which the ,lever whendifsplacedf by the pin 'draws the' picker.:- jngerSdownivardfupon the backfof a .passy 'ing'f envelope, 4ft-he proportions being; such that the finger "held upon the' envelope livit'h "dusliifon'ed pressure. v Another spring 6'?, weaker, than the jspring, serves to-withdi-'aw *the* flap-opener upward.V and to restore' 'the-lever toits 'nor-mal position as so'dn'a's the pin=61has passedv'beyond the *long arm 'ofthe lever. The'archingoif the vfinger iS'andfits 'spacingV forwardly away *from ithe magazine are such as'toafford am- "pl'eclearance Afor l'the -rolling=bacglr` of the flap. It is to be understood, ofcourse, that "the 'envelopesv "are `placed in the envelope 'inagaines 'withtheir lbac-ks and flaps -faci'ng npwardand with their flaps 1at `the rear and their closed b ottom edges at'the front. The moveinento'f the 'flap-'opening finger toward and 'from the "belt A30 'af-nd the normal v,separation of theje'nd'of the 'linger fromthe belt permit the 'foi-Ward,v bottom edge of `each envelope tto; ass freely beneath the elevated linger, "whic if loweredat the time would 'catch thelenvelopeand prevent its progress, 'and enables'the fingerto'descend at a 4motment when it will intersect the'edge ofthe "-{iapapp'rdximately at the center and ycause itl'to curl upward and backward Substantiallyv in the 'manner indicated in Fig. 9. -The construction also avoids the'finger bearing uponfthe belt--inthe absence of an-envelope, which would' cause undesirable wear. In general, iitis to be observed, lthenatu're df thegat'es, traction devices and flap-opener which cooperate l'witht-he envelopes andenbelts 3() and 30a is such as to secure the res'ults intended without'undue pressure and without the presentation of edges or points whichmight dig into the unprotected belts.

1 Beyond the flap-opener 5S Ithe successive envelopes still carried upon the'belt 30^pass lbenea'rtha transverse traction roller G8 lo- 'cated above and somewhat rearwardly of the "roller 31. This roller 68 extends substantally across 'the enclosure of the machine, from frontto rear, and its journal ends are mounted in Ayielding spring-pressed bearings, whereby the roller automatically accommogeen dateslitself :to the passage of the envelopes. In the particular '-contructiony illustrated. thewroller has bearings 69 (Figs. 3 and 8.) whichl areslidable. invertfical guides 70 on the innerfaceswof the walls 2, springs 71 i pressing upon the tops of the bearings to hold the rollergently Iand yieldingly down upon the belt.

.Atbot-h -sides lof the machine. it is desirable to support the upper courses of the belts-30 land x30a in their stretches between the =cylindersf28 and 28a and the rollers 31 and 331, against theV pressure .of .the devices above,;and forthis purpose one for more idle rollersl2, "?2EL inlay bev .positioned beneath the belts. 'in vfeaeh of .such intervals. fe-Fromathefforegoing it will-be understood that;- inthe :operation of the 'machine `an envelope 'ais 'Withdrawn from the bottom of tliegstracki-n themagazine 6 and carried inward and: downward at ianinclination lon the Vbelt SO-,thatitsfflapis-opened in transit in lthiswpart off itscourse, `-andthat where the belt-'turnsand passes-around lthe roller. 31

the envelope-'is directed down-ward to a standf ing position, where; it awaits its enclosure. :fl-t.; will lalso be understood lthat `at lan appropriatef interval afterthe starting of the enrelopeupony such 'movement .an enclosure -biswithd-rawn Ifrom the bottom of the stack .lin thefmagazinje 6? andstarted upon a simi- ;lttr-, lreverse course, and -that the operating tparts are? so 'timed .that Ithe envelope reaches fits -receivinggiposition somewhat before the Lenclosure has been advanced far enough to ,enten it. `The -time interval between thc =start`ing of: anv envelope and the starting :ot its=l enclosure -upon their travel to the floading vstat-ion is calculated with respect t'to the deepest sized envelope within the intended range of the machine. In the par- .ticular construction illustrated the timing Jis determined' by' thevfi-elative positions of the pins 27, 227a lin their orbits, while the timing of the flap-opener 58 is determined by the position of-the pin 61 in its orbit. The extents -of movement of the receding and'pusher-floors 11, 11?, 18, 18a and of the Hapbpener 58 and the length of time that theyremain intheir different positions are -Adetermined by the proportions of the op, lclosures-above the working courses of the:

section 'of the pathsof the ins by the arms 29, 29a'and the lever 62. s indicated, the relations are such .that the floors are operated during a relatively brief period and 'remain-for a 'relatively long period in their normal positions, that is to say with the receding floor forward and the pusher-floor retracted, while 7the flap-opener 58 is held -downfor a relatively brief, though substanltial, period and elevated-for a longer period. l,These matters are necessarilysubject to variation by the mechanic, depending upon the specific design and the closeness with which it is desired that the several operations shall follow each other, to the end of securing maximum output while avoiding possibility of false operation.

The pocket between and below the proximate portions ofthe belts 30, a, Where the envelopes pause for loading, as herein advantageously constituted is defined at the bottom by a vertically adjustable trough 73 and at the sides by walls 74, 75 and a belt 76. The trough 73 extends horizontally and longitudinally directly beneath and at. approximate envelope-distance from the slot between the belts. It is movable to different levels by virtue of handled dogs 77 on its under part projecting through slots 78, 7 8a in the end walls 2, 2a to cooperate with vertical ranges of holding notches 79 on the outer faces of said walls, one of the dogs 77 being retractible against the resistance ef a spring 80(Fig. 1) so as to permit the trough to be moved up or down to afresh position an adjustable bottom stop for the envelopes and it also forms a longitudinal -guide extending lengthwise through the enclosure of the machine and outwardly through the slot 78 in the frontend wall 2 vand for asubstantial distance beyond the same, as seen in Figs. 1 and 17. The trough is thus spaced at varying distances below the relatively fixed sides of the pocket and its sides within the enclosure are inclined outward, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, to insure the seating of the lower edges of the successive envelopes. Where the trough passes through the front slot 78 its sides become vertical, and outwardly of this wall 2 one of its sides disappears7 so that the guide approximately becomes of the substantially right-angular form seen in Figs. 15 and 16, the purpose of which will become clear hereinafter.

The wall 74 is suitably supported within the enclosure of the machine and extends horizontally substantially from end wall to end wall of such enclosure and vertically from a point close beneath the forward bend of the enclosure belt 302t downward to within a suitable distance of the trough. The opposite side wall 75 is preferably of similar longitudinal extent, and extends from a point close beneath the bend of the envelope belt 30 to the top of a longitudinal box or support 81, by which it is supported, the wall being substantially flush with and a continuation of thel inner face of such box. The box is appropriately xed within the interior of the enclosure of the machine and projects outward through and beyond the front wall 2, as seen, for example, in Figs. l and 3. The box forms an enclosure and support for the longitudinal belt 76, which passes about rear and forward end guide rollers 82 and 83 on vertical axes. The rear AEST AVAILABLE COP'iv roller 82 is located substantially midway between the end walls 2 of theenclosure, and therefore centrally with respect to the belts, 30, 30aL and the magazines 6, 6a, which is important for reasons that will appear, while the roller 83 is disposed within the projecting portion' of the vsupport at a point substantially rearward of its outer end. The inner working course of this belt is thus disposed vertically with respect to its transverse dimension 'and substantially flush with the wall 75', the side of the'box being open. The belt is continuously driven through a spur pinion 84 meshed by the gear 39 on the end of the roller 31, a suitably journaled longitudin'al shaft 85 bearing said pinion 84 and a bevel gear 86 at the opposite end of said shaft meshing with a bevel'gear- 87 on the shaft 88fof the roller 82 (see Figs. 7, 11 and 12). 'The ratio is such that the longitudi- -nal beltfA is drivenI at `materially higher linear Ispeed than the feed v.belts 30, 30a..

j 'The' rbelt 76 is tensioned by meansof a spring and there held. The trough thus constitutes 89 ('Fig. l) connectedat itsinner end. to a yoke90 sli'dable within the supportSl and carrying ,theroller 83,'-the opposite end of said' spring-being `connected to a movable fend plate .91. y f

' The loaded envelopes are pressedagainst :the'beltso' as to be'transported longitudinally from the'f pocket and outward along the projecting 'portions of the bottom guide 7 3 and 'support 81 by means of a periodically "operated clutch 92. Said clutch preferably comprises' a lever 93 pivotally fulcrumed in termediate itsends at 94 on a fixed bracket l95 and bearing atfone end a roller 96, which is 'adaptedto be projected through an opening in the pocket wall 74 directly opposite the rear'end belt roller 82. With these relations'the roller 82 sustainsthe pressure of the roller 96'and prevents stretching of the belt 76. The clutch is 4urged toward the belt with yielding pressure by means of a spring 97. Means'are provided for operating the clutch in proper timed relation with the other instrumentalities of the machine. Preferably detent means are provided for holding the clutch outof action away from the belt during the arrival of each envelope and the entrance therein of its enclosure, together with means controlled by the driven operating mechanism of the machine for tripping or yreleasing the detent at the proper time to permit the spring 97 to throw the clutch into action and for subsequently retracting the clutch to be re-engaged and held by the detent. In the particular construction illustrated' the end of the lever 93 remote from the roller 96 lies in front of a slide 98, which is guided for longitudinal movement on a suitable support 99 at the inner side of and parallel with the front wall 2 of the machine enclosure. Said slide is formed with one or more detent notches 1,00 ffor engagement by -a detent dog 101, which isf-pivotcd -a-t 102 on said support. r1`his detent is .urged to holding position, wherein it prevents rearward movement of the slide 98, bythe actionof a spring 1,03. Its :upper end insaid position lies in the path of the pin 27e on the xadjacent end of the cylinder 28a. Said pin also encounters the upper end of a. lever 105 which is 1pivotally fulcrumed intermediate its. ends at G and connected atl its 4lower end with the rear end 'of' the slide 98 byapivotal llink 107. The relative posi-tions are lsuch that .at the proper time in each v revolution lthe pin 27 presses against the -detent 101., vdisengaging the same from the slide '98,r which then no longer opposes the movement ofv .the clutch lever v93 under the actionofthe spring 97, said spring accordingly throwing the clutch from the broken line' :inactive position of .1F-ig..12.fto the -full line position and moving theslide from 'thedotted li-ne position lof Fig. Jlltothe full-line :position iof Athe same-view. `Thus the clutch is-fquicltly ing -pressuref v i After. 1.a suitable internal, which -is "sufficient :to cause: the :loaded 'envelope to be advanced to the influence ofa subsequenttraction memberfalo'nglthe path of longitudinal traveL'fthe p'in 27a-bears 'against the lever. 105 andan its'continuedmovement shifts the same, thereby yresetting the slide '98 and the clutchf92,fthe clutch :being'wirhdrawn from the belt. lnthis operation the detent 101 drops automatically into one of the notches x100-so as to hold the parts .inthe normal or unclutched `condition -until the next revolutionvofthe pin. Said pin 27a, it will be .-understood, is positioned at :the proper pointl in its-,orbit with reference to the other timing elements of the mechanism, so as to cause 'the clutch to move into action directly after but not before vthe envelope has been loaded. l

Returning to the arrival of the envelopes and their'cnclosurcs at the-top of the `'loadinn 'pocket` the presenceshould be noted 0f a, longitudinal lbaille plate 108 which .hangs l{"ieely-in the slot-between the Vproximate portions of the belts and 30a. being supported `by hookedlugs 109 at 'the top and toward its end 'upon pins 110 projecting inward Efrom the end walls2, 2a. This central baiiie extends for a substantial distance above the slot vand for a short distance downward into the same, and-serves fto ldefleet' the advancing edges of the -envelopes and enclosures coming down the inclined belts 30, 3WL downward into the pocket. In so doing it is free to yield alternately to right Aard left under-the pressure of the ar- 'ticles` `whereby the desired deflection is secured without possibility of choking. rlhe lower edge of thcbatile is at such-height as to clear the mouths of the envelopes when tweeen the latter s tand uponthe .trough o r adjust-able bottom 4Stop 73:.Att4 this point it may be notedthatA with 'the roller 68 over the envelopebelt 30 locatedin the position shown, the'tip of the flap ,of leach envelope, when the-latter reaches the zbottom stop 73, may still be :held by the roller if the flap be a longfone, or if ashort .one may be released so as .to .standagainst the baille', as seen in the drawings. `Thebalile 108 therefore also constitutes means `for restraining lthe flap, as seen in Figs .8land 11,so as to leave the mouth `of :the envelope .unobstructed, and .as a longitudinal .guideffor this fia-p, vso that when -the ennelope ,is Itransported lengthwise bythe belt 76. the `flap will pass. out through the upper.l portion of ,the exit slot 78 ,inthe frontJ wall 2 in proper .position to be operated upon 'by .thedevices outside of this wall. .'llherhooksl 109 yat the .top ofthe bafiie 4 are open, so lthat .the baffle can ,be .lifted out otithe 110,to'perniit ,of lfthe ,removal of the .contents of the loading pocket event ofa defective .envelope .or ,one its Hap stuck beingl fed from .tliefstack Y V :1.a The deviceV which,l will .bejcalled the .knucklevwill new be described; This is an .instrumentality j ,for acting upon the face of -.the.envelope that is to saythe side .which receives the address,..so as to buckle the same .for the purpose of ,opening the mouth of the envelope to afford.y ready entrance for the arrivingedge ofthe enclosure.v The knuckle is supported at the side of the loading pocket =or .station toward the envelope belt and at` an appropriate Adistance below the slot .between 'the proximate portions of the belt, and Ahas operating connections, for .actuating it at 'properly timed intervals in ythe general `action ofthe machine. In the particular construction illustrated knuckle .comprises a plate 111 pivctally Ahung upon thefinnerfside'of the wall 75, .near the t0pithere'of, lso ,that its free lower end or Lodge will ,-.act` upon the face of the envelope a distance below the fold of the jfiap. In .the .longitudinal or horizontal direction thehknuckle extends for a distance sufficientfto produce effective buckling. The connections for' 4operating; :the knuckle 5in- .clude a yielding element, whereby it will give tothe entrance ,of the enclosure into the envelope so thatthe enclosure will slip down into the envelope without binding. As with theother voperating connections employed in the .macliine, `the particular form may` of course, be varied. ln .the preferred embodiment illustrated the endof the driven =cylinder 28 adjacent 1the front of the machine carries an eccentrically located pin 27, Aheretofore ,referred to, and this pin in theilowerportion of-.itsorbit encounters the tail of a bell-crank ,1,12, which is pivotally v4supported -at 1.13 and urgedv contrary to the bears upon an arm 116, which is secured` to a shaft 117, which extends for a suitable distance over the top of-the belt box 81 behind the wall 75, being supported in bearing lugs 118 on said box. At a suitable point said shaft bears an arm 119, the arms 116 and-119 with the shaft 117 conformed with an eye to work'over a plunger rod 120, which passes through a suitable opening in the wall 75, and is connected at its forward end with the knuckle. A spring collar 122.0n the rod and the arm 119. The

spring 121 thus constitutes a yielding thrust pin 123 on the vrear end ofthe rod 120 prevents disconnection and affords positiveoperationin withdrawal.

The bell-crank, 116, 117, 119 is urged in the direction to project the knuckle by a spring124. The springs 114, 124 and 121 are of different strengths, the spring 114 being the strongest, the spring 124 next-in strength, and the -spring 121 being the weakest. Normally, that is to say when the pin 27 is off the bell-crank 112, the spring 114 holds this bell-crank in the dotted rline position of/ Fig. 10, thereby holding the bell-crank'll, 117, 119 in its dotted line position lagainst the action of the spring 124, and thereby in turn holding the rod 120 and the knuckle llldrawn back against the wall 75 out of the way of ein arriving envelope. `When, however, the p n 27 rides upon the bell-crank 112, thellatter is swung to the fullA line position in Fig. 10, thereby releasing the intermediate bellcrank to move under the action of its` spring 124, which, acting Ithrough the yielding thrust connection 121, swings the knuckle out into the pocket against vthe face of the envelope. This position is preserved during the relatively brief period during which e the in 27 rides upon the-tail of the bell- `cran 112. At this time .the enclosure b has been advanced by the belt 30", so as to thrust its forward edge, against the baie 108, which is thereby swung toward the envelope side of the machine,- as seen in Fig. 10. Thus, by the combined and op "osite action of the knuckle and of the ba `e, the latter pressing against the ap 'c under the action of the enclosure,l the mouth of the envelope iseiectually spread; and the forward edge of the enclosure, guided b the curved extremityiof the plate 50 an deflected by the baffle 108 and then slipping along 'the-base ofthe flap e, enters with certainty into the to of the envelope. The pin 27 now rideso the bell-crank 112 and H vthe' spring 114 quickly operates lthrough the stituting a bell-crank. The arm 119 -is 121' encircles the rod 120 between a forward BEST AVAILABLE COP\ intermediate connections to retract the knuckle so as to allow the enclosure to slip down the desired distance into the envelope. In order to insure against any binding of the enclosure in its movement into the -envelope, the lightyielding spring connection 121 is provided to permit the knuckle to give to the downward advance of the enclosure. F romwhat has been said it will be understood that the timing of the knuckle is such that it is actuated almost directly after the bottoming of each envelope in the pocket and between this moment and the moment of arrival of the forward edge of the enclosure over the mouth of the envelope, and that the knuckle remains projected until 'after the enclosure has started into the mouth, and that immediately thereafter it is withdrawn to normal position.y In some cases a yielding knuckle Without operating connections might be employed, but it is more satisfactory to have it move to its work and then retreat out of the way.

Whereas the bottom stop or trough 73, which extended forms a bottom guide for conducting the loaded envelopes outside of the enclosure of the machine, ispositionable at various heights for different depths of envelope, the forward lower edge of the traction and 4feed-limiting plate 50 over the enclosure belt 30 remains always at a fixed height which is so determined that the upper edges of the enclosures always project out of the mouths of the envelopes for a short distance u the inner, faces of the standing flaps'o, ridging the fold which connects the liaps with the fronts ofthe envelopes. This lis important for subsequent operations.' As soon as practicable after each enclosure has thus been introduced in'to its envelope, the clutch 92 heretofo're described is brought into action, pressing the loaded enve ope against the longitudinal belt 76 at a region where the latter is sustained b the roller 82, and the loaded envelo e wit the enclosure projecting vand the apA usually standing erect and sliding along the baiiie 108 is quickly transported endwise away from the loading stationy out through the exit 78 and upon` the projectin guide 73. As heretofore pointed out, the lt 76 is driven at much higher speed than the, belts 30, 30, the urpose being to remove each loaded enve ope as expeditiously as possible, so as to clear the pocket or loading station suiiciently for the next envelope, which is already arriv-.

The bottom guide 73 rejects for a substantial distance forwardly from the front ofthe machine enclosure, as do also the belt box support 81 and the wall 75 which rises from' the inner .face` thereof. The outer por tion of the belt 7 6 terminates at apoint i'n- 

